Kneading device



Sept. 27, 1932. J REINHQLD 1,879,493

KNEADING DE Filed y 8, 1930 II /I,

I INi ENTOR.

(/0/7/2 Fem/mid,

A TTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN J. REINHOLD, OF MARIET'IA, PENNSYLVANIA xnnamne DEVICE Application filed May 8,

The present invention relates tobody applicators and more particularly to a device for externally treating the organs contained in the abdominal cavity of the human body, the walls of that cavity, muscles and other parts. 7 I

It has heretofore been proposed in various patented structures to simulate the action of the human fingers when giving massage and kneading treatments and while these mechanical substitutes may serve fairly satis factorily for surface treatments, none has been eflicient as a corrective of stomach and intestinal disorders. It is one problem to provide an apparatus for restoring or increasing the circulation of the blood to build up broken-down tissues, but quite another problem to provide a mechanical means capable of effectively kneading the stomach and intestines of a person. It is to this last problem that the present invention is directed and in solving it the invention has as a secondary result also produced better results in body surface treatments.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide a body kneading apparatus which is pioneer in character and operation to provide an apparatus for body kneading purposes which is operated and manipulated solely by the person using it; to provide a treating mechanism which functions to compress the stomach, intestines and other internal organs of the user to cause them to be stimulated, revived and restored to perform their natural functions; to provide a treating apparatus to apply a succession of relatively heavy impressions upon the body of a patient; to provide a treating apparatus wherein a plurality of relatively heavy masses are arranged in predetermined spaced relation so that when applied to the body undergoing treatment there are periods of applied pressures alternating with periods of no pressure; to provide a complete unitary pressure treating mechanism wherein no effort is required of the user other than to draw the mechanism across the place to be treated; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 rep- 1930. Serial No; 450,612.

resentsa side elevation of a treating apparatus embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a top plan of the same; and Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing one form of the present invention consists of a hub 10 having an axial bore 11 to receive a stationary shaft 12 upon which the hub 10 is mounted for free rotation. The shaft 12 preferably projects from opposite ends of the bore 11 to respectively receive the apertured middle portions of a bail 13 which extends in opposite directions from the hub 10 to provide' two generally loop-shaped handles 14. Studs 15 are threaded into the ends of the shaft 12 to hold the bail 13in place and the heads of these" studs 15 are preferably rounded to give a neat finished effect. It will thus be evident that the hub 10 is freely rotatable 7 about the shaft 12 and that it can be actuated as desired by alternately pulling the bail 13 from its end handles 14. p In order to cause the hub 10 to impart a series or succession of heavy impressions to the body of a patient, a plurality of radially disposed weight members 16 are formed integral with the hub 10 but projecting equal distances from the axis of rotation to terminate in arc shaped faces 17 which are seg ments of the same sphere. As here shown there are three weight members 16 each having a length substantiallyequal to one sixth of the circumference of the imaginary sphere so that between each adjacent pair of members 16 there is a radial space 18 having its mouth substantially equal to one one-sixth of the aforesaid circumference. The bounding walls 20 of each of these spaces 18 curve towards each other and then loop inwardly to 99 merge into the circumference of the hub 10. Thus the two ends, circumferentially considered, of each weight member 16, are rounded in a predetermined manner so that each can roll against the flesh without presenting any sharp angles. V

For the purpose of eliminating direct contact of the weight members 16, which are preferably metal, with the body and giving an initial cushioning of the heavy impression, each member 16 has its working face covered with a pad 21 of rubber or other suitable yielding material which, in the present instance, is molded into position by providing a peripheral groove 22 in each member 16 to receive a pressed-in annular flange 23 on the inner side of each pad 21. The overall diameter of each pad 21 is greater than that of the member 16 upon which the pad is to seat so that in assembled condition an air chamber 24 is formed between the working face of each member 16 and the pad 21. In consequence of this each mass. impression of a member 16 upon the yielding body results in a graduated applicationof the total weight instead of an abrupt droppingof the weight with an impact effect.

Inoperating the device of the present invention the patient assumes a reclining position with the parts of the body to be treated exposed for direct contactby the cushioned weight members 16. v The handles 14 arenow grasped and the device drawnback and forth across the body with its full weight applied to the ,parts undergoing treatment and the result is a succession ofheavy impressionsalternating with a succession of periods when no pressure is applied. Thus the eifectof each weight member 16 isto beginitslworking impression with a cushioningaction but as'the weight rolls into its most effective pos1onthe cush on compressed tov g ve, a more pos tive welght action, so that lnstead .of

of having a mere surfacemassage actionthe weight really sinks into the body. Generally the abdomen is thepartto ,betreatedand the weight therefore is sufficient to project the abdominal wall inwardly so thatthe stomach. or intestines or other parts receive ,akdirect compressive action. This inward projection of .the flesh walllis sufliciently severe vto stretch.the projected and indented-parts so that when the weight moves on and .its ,place is taken by aspace 18 these stretchedfparts rebound to normal position. Thisaction is repeated as the device 1s drawn across the body to act upon diiferentareas and a return travel of the device can work the same location again or by shifting the starting pointit can work upon adjacent locations.

It will now be apparent thata complete unitary treatingdevice of the kneading type has been devised whereby the internal organs ofthe body receive an etfective working action designed and operative to stimulate and maintain them functioning in the natural manner. Furthermore ,by the use of,relatively heavy masses, operating in succession, a direct kneading of the intestines is made possible which stirs up domant conditions and positively eliminates clogging pocketsand strictures.

While only a single form .is shown in which .this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood. that the invention is .notlimited to frame forming a handle,.a heavy metal body rotatably mounted within said frame having a relatively small central hub portion, radially arrangedcircular gkIlObS of substantial area extending from said hub portion and .each having outwardly flaring side walls terminating in an enlarged head portion with a contact area of a diameter substantially thatof the widthof the hub portion, and a fconcavo-conveX resilient padmembermount- .edon the head portion ofeachof said knobs and ihaving theconcave side thereof spaced from ;the"'outer face of said head portion whereby a series of heavy cushioned blows are impartedtothe surface to be treated when saidapparatus is moved thereover.

Si ned at Philadel hia, county of Philadelphiapbtate of Pennsylvania, this 28thday (a I JOHN REINHOLD.

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